So as u know I officially rejoined weight watchers last week it's been a very busy week and barely know where it's gone. I have to say I have been bad, i've not tracked at all and just tried to make wiser choices. I realised after I hadn't given you any of my weights.
When I originally joined back in 2009 I weight a massive 15 stone 4.5lbs (I say massive as I'm a tiny person only 5ft 1) and my goal weight was 8 stone 11 which I was more than happy with.
Rejoining and seeing those scales go up to 11stone 8.5lbs was a little depressing though I had weighted my self just before I gave birth and at that point I was another stone heavier! I blame the chocolate and cakes.
So heres my food over the week
Saturday - we went out to an Italian for a friends birthday I had a pizza and garlic bread
Sunday - I had quice and salad
Monday - stayed at home had a nice salad for lunch then ... For dinner I had warm chicken salad
Tuesday - went into town with my mum as I was having my hair cut then physio for lunch I had a prawn salad and a roll for dinner I had pasta carbanna
Wednesday - is NCT gang meet up day we always meet in the park in town which means it keeps it cheap and people can either bring their own lunch or buy something. I'm always good and take my lunch so had another salad but it was followed by 2 littleish cakes one of the NCT ladies had made In my defence I did get the bus so did quite a but of walking. Dinner was pork kebabs new pots and veg.
Thursday spent the day with my mum we went to the garden centre to get down bird seeds (exciting life I lead) had a very naughty lunch of bacon, Brie and cranberry baguette followed by a nice big slice of coffee & walnut cake dinner was Salmon, couscous and veg.
Friday turned out to be another manic day after a visit to the dentist to sort my filling I took J to baby sensory (report to follow) then home for lunch of porridge as I needed something soft after my temp filling replacement then baby clinic before a visit to my friends dinner was mushroom risotto with about 2 glasses of wine.
Noticed that I haven't told you what I've been having for breakfasts mainly as I can't quite remember most the time this week been just having a banana. Also not said what I have snacked on as again I can't remember
Weight in results lost 1/2 a lb which I'm happy with I think if I have less cake and crap it should be more.
Plan for the week ahead well still not quite ready to track but will try and be good less rubbish in the house
Saturday 27 July 2013
Baby Groups
Baby sensory
Took J to a taster session of baby sensory Friday after a fellow NCT girl had said she was going. I hadn't looked much into it back basically it looks at different ways you can stimulate your baby senses to help with your babies development.
When I 1st turned up I was asked to take my shoes off before Kayleigh explained how the session work. It consists of baby simulation then quite play time followed by more baby simulation. I was told at any time it was ok to feed J and that not to worry if J was asleep or crying. The baby simulation takes place on a mat, they start by signing the hello song with signs honestly I found this a bit happy clappey. Then did various others things to music including signing a few other songs like if your happy and you know it. After about 20 minutes we then told to go and have quite play time over the other side of the room there was a vast eray of toys. I decided to let J have some tummy time before he got up set as he was hungry so I fed him. We then re gathered on the mats for more sensory. This time Kayleigh got out a big parachute and we waved it up and down while she put balloons on the top then there were bubbles.
After an hour the session ended. J was awake for the majority of it and seemed ok with it all as he didn't get upset. In the end I really enjoyed the session but part of me thinks he's a bit young at the moment I think it may be better when he's like 3 months or something, though Kayleigh did tell me that newborn babies start taking in everything even when asleep. My other slight problem is the class is on a friday morning and come Sept we won't be available.
Long shot the verdict is still out, think I might try some baby groups at the local children centres
Took J to a taster session of baby sensory Friday after a fellow NCT girl had said she was going. I hadn't looked much into it back basically it looks at different ways you can stimulate your baby senses to help with your babies development.
When I 1st turned up I was asked to take my shoes off before Kayleigh explained how the session work. It consists of baby simulation then quite play time followed by more baby simulation. I was told at any time it was ok to feed J and that not to worry if J was asleep or crying. The baby simulation takes place on a mat, they start by signing the hello song with signs honestly I found this a bit happy clappey. Then did various others things to music including signing a few other songs like if your happy and you know it. After about 20 minutes we then told to go and have quite play time over the other side of the room there was a vast eray of toys. I decided to let J have some tummy time before he got up set as he was hungry so I fed him. We then re gathered on the mats for more sensory. This time Kayleigh got out a big parachute and we waved it up and down while she put balloons on the top then there were bubbles.
After an hour the session ended. J was awake for the majority of it and seemed ok with it all as he didn't get upset. In the end I really enjoyed the session but part of me thinks he's a bit young at the moment I think it may be better when he's like 3 months or something, though Kayleigh did tell me that newborn babies start taking in everything even when asleep. My other slight problem is the class is on a friday morning and come Sept we won't be available.
Long shot the verdict is still out, think I might try some baby groups at the local children centres
Bumps & Babies
I went to one of my local children centres bumps and babies groups not quite sure what I expected but not sure I'd go again. I ended up turning up a little late but thought it would be ok as it said it was a drop in but I'd missed the talk. The rest of the group was just mum's sitting on the floor chatting to be I want something I can do with my son.
Rhyme Time
I have been attending Rhyme time at my local library for a few weeks and have to say I love it. Although the one attend isn't massively suited to babies I still enjoy going and signing nursery rhymes to my son. It's differently a group I will continue to attend and highly recommend anyone trying their local one
Baby Massage
Baby Massage
One of the girls from my NCT group had found out about baby massage. It had been advertised at my local children centre so it was a class I had wanted to try. So between the girls we organised a local lady called Marilyn to come and run a 4 week course for us. We were lucky last week we have beautiful weather we were able to sit outside.
I braved not having a nappy on J and we did the 30 minute session with him starkers but he seemed to like it. I really enjoyed the session and felt it was a good chance to bond more with J so I would differently recommend to others to do it.
Would you like to book a Baby Massage, Baby Signing or Baby Music Course, or any combination to suit you and your friends. Delivered in your own homes at a time and day to suit you? fully insured, CRB checked and experienced in running courses at local Reading Children's Centres. Typical price £20 for a 4 week course, for each baby. Contact Marilyn "First Fruits" at razmak@hotmail.co.uk
I braved not having a nappy on J and we did the 30 minute session with him starkers but he seemed to like it. I really enjoyed the session and felt it was a good chance to bond more with J so I would differently recommend to others to do it.
Would you like to book a Baby Massage, Baby Signing or Baby Music Course, or any combination to suit you and your friends. Delivered in your own homes at a time and day to suit you? fully insured, CRB checked and experienced in running courses at local Reading Children's Centres. Typical price £20 for a 4 week course, for each baby. Contact Marilyn "First Fruits" at razmak@hotmail.co.uk
What you need you need in the first few weeks for newborn:
Thought I'd put together a list of what items I think you should have in the 1st few weeks for a new born baby.
Moses basket/crib - consider though where baby may sleep during the day. As I live in a 2 story house I didn't want to be carrying a Moses basket up and down the stairs.
3 x fitted sheets for Moses basket/crib
2 x blankets for Moses basket
or sleeping bags but can't use until baby is over 8lb something
Some kind of simple play mat or blanket for the floor so you can encourage tummy time
Some kind of baby chair or ring to encourage baby to sit up a bit, for us J liked being more upright so this was a god send. It doesn't have to vibrate and talking to others some babies don't like the vibrating ones
Changing mat
Couple of packs of nappies size 1 so highly suggest not bulk buying nappies and just try various home brands like Aldi, Tesco etc we found with J some nappies didn't suit him and leaked
Cotton wool pads
little bowl for top and tailing
4 packs Baby wipes but I still highly recommend the cheeky wipes
Towel for baby I like the hooded ones
Baby bath but not essential you want bath baby until cord falls off at the end of week 1 or 2
Sponge
Car seat
Sun shades for your car
Pram
Some kind of sun shade for your pram and or rain cover
Maybe an isofix - my verdict on these are out
10 x muslins
10 x baby grows new born size
6 x sleepsuits new born size
2 pairs of socks
2 pairs of scratch mits
1 hat
emergancy carton or 2 of milk and some bottles if you planning on breastfeeding if not that you will need bottles, formula, bottle brush and something to sterilise the bottles
Hope this has helped a little one point is don't go out and buy loads of things, I have ended up with things i've not really needed and then had to rush out and buy other things. Also you may be lucky enough to be brought some bits once baby arrives
Moses basket/crib - consider though where baby may sleep during the day. As I live in a 2 story house I didn't want to be carrying a Moses basket up and down the stairs.
3 x fitted sheets for Moses basket/crib
2 x blankets for Moses basket
or sleeping bags but can't use until baby is over 8lb something
Some kind of simple play mat or blanket for the floor so you can encourage tummy time
Some kind of baby chair or ring to encourage baby to sit up a bit, for us J liked being more upright so this was a god send. It doesn't have to vibrate and talking to others some babies don't like the vibrating ones
Changing mat
Couple of packs of nappies size 1 so highly suggest not bulk buying nappies and just try various home brands like Aldi, Tesco etc we found with J some nappies didn't suit him and leaked
Cotton wool pads
little bowl for top and tailing
4 packs Baby wipes but I still highly recommend the cheeky wipes
Towel for baby I like the hooded ones
Baby bath but not essential you want bath baby until cord falls off at the end of week 1 or 2
Sponge
Car seat
Sun shades for your car
Pram
Some kind of sun shade for your pram and or rain cover
Maybe an isofix - my verdict on these are out
10 x muslins
10 x baby grows new born size
6 x sleepsuits new born size
2 pairs of socks
2 pairs of scratch mits
1 hat
emergancy carton or 2 of milk and some bottles if you planning on breastfeeding if not that you will need bottles, formula, bottle brush and something to sterilise the bottles
Hope this has helped a little one point is don't go out and buy loads of things, I have ended up with things i've not really needed and then had to rush out and buy other things. Also you may be lucky enough to be brought some bits once baby arrives
Saturday 20 July 2013
Well here I go again
So after my post am I coping I started thinking more about weight watchers and the way I looked. I knew quite a few people who had breast fed and the weight had just dropped back off them. For me breast feeding hadn't worked so there was no quickish fix for me. I feel fat and frumpy and yes I know I have just given birth but I have hardly any clothes that fit and I don't want to do and buy loads of things. I did end up buying a pair of linen trousers and a new dress the other week in M&S but I so want to get back into all my lovely clothes that are in the loft! So last Sunday I bite the bullet and decided that needed to get back into weight watchers, while in town I popped into the lifestyle centre in Reading and got weighted. I'm a total of 3 stone up from my goal weight which is 42lbs this is some what depressing. I picked up a new pack to get me back on track with the plan and had decided that as i maybe wasn't ready to track points again I would look at the filling and healthy part of the plan when I got home.
Got home put the folder on the side and that's where it's stayed for the last week! I'm the same with fitness DVD's think oh yeah I'll give that a go but I need to be motivated to do it I was always better off going to classes.
Rewind 1533 days to the 9th may 2009 and theres me walking into my 1st ever weight watchers meeting feeling very scared, fast forward to today and this morning Saturday 20th July I'm doing the same again! Purposely I choose my old meeting for 2 reasons 1: my friend was back up there and 2: I know the leader really well, not only was she a member at the meeting I lost all my weight with but she also went through her leader training just before me. Walking in wasn't as bad as it had been all those years ago mainly as I saw lots of old faces from when I went back in 2010. They were all pleased to see me and little J.
1st weigh in I lost 1/2 a lb which is good considering I hadn't done anything all week and had just been eating what was in the house, though to be fair there hasn't been that much chocolate in the house this week.
I always found my key for success was not only tracking but planning my meals ahead. I did get to the point where I would point up my menu as I planned it. I'd already planned my menu for this week Friday but I found my self while shopping buying lots of fruit and veg and less rubbish. So my plan this week is not to track as really I would like not to have to count points, eat a lot less rubbish and walk lots. I think I need to try and plan a nice 30 minute walk every day not only will this help me get fit but will also be nice for J. I have already done my quote for today as I did the 20 minute walk up to the meeting and then and hour slow walk around sainsburys.
Will keep you posted on how I get on. Hopefully this might mean I might tweet about something else bar little J
Got home put the folder on the side and that's where it's stayed for the last week! I'm the same with fitness DVD's think oh yeah I'll give that a go but I need to be motivated to do it I was always better off going to classes.
Rewind 1533 days to the 9th may 2009 and theres me walking into my 1st ever weight watchers meeting feeling very scared, fast forward to today and this morning Saturday 20th July I'm doing the same again! Purposely I choose my old meeting for 2 reasons 1: my friend was back up there and 2: I know the leader really well, not only was she a member at the meeting I lost all my weight with but she also went through her leader training just before me. Walking in wasn't as bad as it had been all those years ago mainly as I saw lots of old faces from when I went back in 2010. They were all pleased to see me and little J.
1st weigh in I lost 1/2 a lb which is good considering I hadn't done anything all week and had just been eating what was in the house, though to be fair there hasn't been that much chocolate in the house this week.
I always found my key for success was not only tracking but planning my meals ahead. I did get to the point where I would point up my menu as I planned it. I'd already planned my menu for this week Friday but I found my self while shopping buying lots of fruit and veg and less rubbish. So my plan this week is not to track as really I would like not to have to count points, eat a lot less rubbish and walk lots. I think I need to try and plan a nice 30 minute walk every day not only will this help me get fit but will also be nice for J. I have already done my quote for today as I did the 20 minute walk up to the meeting and then and hour slow walk around sainsburys.
Will keep you posted on how I get on. Hopefully this might mean I might tweet about something else bar little J
Those items I wished I'd brought or not brought
Recently I did an update blog of the baby products I brought but after a few conversations on twitter I thought I'd write an update of products I wish I'd brought or not brought. Though honestly I actually think u should buy the bare min and then see how you get on before you go and buy lots. Also you will probably get lots of presents too.
Nursery: The lastest guidelines say that your little one should be in your room until at least 6 months so though at some point you will need to have the nursery set up, at the beginning you won't need it set up bUT I would highly recommend you have it done think more for piece of mind also i think most people do the same.
In our nursery we have a cot bed, we brought this as it will last J until he's about 5 as the cot sides come off and there is 3 different heights for the base. Attached to the cot bed I have a mobile which honestly I have only used a couple of times. We were lent this otherwise I possibly wouldn't have brought it straight away
We then have a wardrobe and a chest of draws I can't express enough that it's good to have lots of draws and storage. Our wardrobe has a self unit inside it otherwise I would have brought a self unit to store all J's books & toys. Inside the wardrobe I have a big box which contains spare things like spare nappies, nappy bags etc.
On top of our chest of draws we have the changing mat, some people buy the changing unit that goes above the cot but i preferred just having it ontop of the chest of draws. I didn't have enough spare draws to store in the chest of draws to keep what I'd call changing bits so I have a white unit on wheels. on the top I keep my cheeky wipes a few nappies and nappy bags for those night changes we find it easier having it all out rather than having to have to route though a draws. the white unit has 3 draws, draw 1 contains the open packet of nappies, antibacterial wipes and a spare packet of baby wipes, Draw 2 has toiletries things like the bowl for washing j in the morning, cotton wool, moisturiser, suncream, hair brush, nail clippers etc Draw 3 contains towels for when I bath him and also his swimming bits Draw 4 contains spare travel changing mats and the nappy bags
I'm differently the kind of person who has to have everything in certain places and therefore you may notice things under J's cot these are the bits I'm going to sell like clothes that no longer fit J, my pregnancy pillow I brought at varest expense that I never got on with and my maternity clothes that don't fit anymore.
I also have a chair in the nursery for those night time feeds if I'm honest I would suggest buying one with arms make it easier to support your arm during the night feeds at the moment we've decided to replace it.
Clothes: I would highly suggest only buying a few bits in newborn size maybe 5 bodysuits, 5 sleep suits and a few rompers then depending on the weather and size of baby you can then buy more if needed. As for tiny baby clothes well unless you know your having a tiny baby I'm not sure I'd bother. My mum brought me a pack of tiny baby sleep suits which actually turned out to be great as J was only 6lb 5oz and then I sent hubby out to get a few extra bits so we ended up with 5 body suits and 5 sleep suits, j was only in them for about 2 weeks before going up to the next size and I just washed them every other day. Also as adult clothing stores baby shops are the same sizes varies in different shops. Again you will be given things. One great piece of advice I was given was if you don't like something and it still has the label on your can return it without a receipt.
I would suggest also on stocking up on muslins, in the beginning I thought 10 was enough but I have them in the crib and Moses basket tuck in so if he's sick or dribbles I only have to change that & not the fitted sheets therefore I think plan white ones are much better. On that I have 4 fitted sheets for the cot & crib.
Growbags: hubby always took the mickey out of me for buying so many! I have three 2.5 tog one of which is a travel one, one 1.5 tog and one 1 tog all 0-6 months. At the moment as he still quiet little I'm still just using a blanket over him when needed. I did try the 1 tog on him last night and he seemed to be ok. It's hard as if we weren't going through a mini heat wave or he wasn't so tiny I would be using them so actually is 5 too many??
Bathing: we have a baby bath with a plug in the bottom which is great and then a rest that goes it that makes it much easier. I have 1 sponge and then I am using Johnson's top to toe wash BUT I would recommend trying trial sizes before stocking up on any one product as you don't know if your little one will be allergic to anything J doesn't get on with Bottom butter. We also brought munchkin bath thermometer but I would differently buy one that actually tells you the temperature.
Toys - I would recommend not buying hardly anything to begin with unless you see something you really like most chances are that people will buy you some kind of toy.
Car: We've been out in the car loads i differently suggest buying decent car sun blinds that fits your car. We had originally brought 2 cheepes from Adsa but were always have problems with the 2nd one as it often will fall off or not block enough of the sun.
We've also brought an easy view mirror from Jo Jo Maman Bebe
http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+easy-view-baby-mirror-for-rear-facing-seats-in-baby-car-travel-and-buggy-accessories+a4463
This sits in the rear facing J so we can actually see his face. I would say you can buy them slightly cheaper on somewhere like Amazon but we just brought it when we saw it.
Well ended up being a bit of a long post but hope it helps somewhat.
Nursery: The lastest guidelines say that your little one should be in your room until at least 6 months so though at some point you will need to have the nursery set up, at the beginning you won't need it set up bUT I would highly recommend you have it done think more for piece of mind also i think most people do the same.
In our nursery we have a cot bed, we brought this as it will last J until he's about 5 as the cot sides come off and there is 3 different heights for the base. Attached to the cot bed I have a mobile which honestly I have only used a couple of times. We were lent this otherwise I possibly wouldn't have brought it straight away
We then have a wardrobe and a chest of draws I can't express enough that it's good to have lots of draws and storage. Our wardrobe has a self unit inside it otherwise I would have brought a self unit to store all J's books & toys. Inside the wardrobe I have a big box which contains spare things like spare nappies, nappy bags etc.
On top of our chest of draws we have the changing mat, some people buy the changing unit that goes above the cot but i preferred just having it ontop of the chest of draws. I didn't have enough spare draws to store in the chest of draws to keep what I'd call changing bits so I have a white unit on wheels. on the top I keep my cheeky wipes a few nappies and nappy bags for those night changes we find it easier having it all out rather than having to have to route though a draws. the white unit has 3 draws, draw 1 contains the open packet of nappies, antibacterial wipes and a spare packet of baby wipes, Draw 2 has toiletries things like the bowl for washing j in the morning, cotton wool, moisturiser, suncream, hair brush, nail clippers etc Draw 3 contains towels for when I bath him and also his swimming bits Draw 4 contains spare travel changing mats and the nappy bags
I'm differently the kind of person who has to have everything in certain places and therefore you may notice things under J's cot these are the bits I'm going to sell like clothes that no longer fit J, my pregnancy pillow I brought at varest expense that I never got on with and my maternity clothes that don't fit anymore.
I also have a chair in the nursery for those night time feeds if I'm honest I would suggest buying one with arms make it easier to support your arm during the night feeds at the moment we've decided to replace it.
Clothes: I would highly suggest only buying a few bits in newborn size maybe 5 bodysuits, 5 sleep suits and a few rompers then depending on the weather and size of baby you can then buy more if needed. As for tiny baby clothes well unless you know your having a tiny baby I'm not sure I'd bother. My mum brought me a pack of tiny baby sleep suits which actually turned out to be great as J was only 6lb 5oz and then I sent hubby out to get a few extra bits so we ended up with 5 body suits and 5 sleep suits, j was only in them for about 2 weeks before going up to the next size and I just washed them every other day. Also as adult clothing stores baby shops are the same sizes varies in different shops. Again you will be given things. One great piece of advice I was given was if you don't like something and it still has the label on your can return it without a receipt.
I would suggest also on stocking up on muslins, in the beginning I thought 10 was enough but I have them in the crib and Moses basket tuck in so if he's sick or dribbles I only have to change that & not the fitted sheets therefore I think plan white ones are much better. On that I have 4 fitted sheets for the cot & crib.
Growbags: hubby always took the mickey out of me for buying so many! I have three 2.5 tog one of which is a travel one, one 1.5 tog and one 1 tog all 0-6 months. At the moment as he still quiet little I'm still just using a blanket over him when needed. I did try the 1 tog on him last night and he seemed to be ok. It's hard as if we weren't going through a mini heat wave or he wasn't so tiny I would be using them so actually is 5 too many??
Bathing: we have a baby bath with a plug in the bottom which is great and then a rest that goes it that makes it much easier. I have 1 sponge and then I am using Johnson's top to toe wash BUT I would recommend trying trial sizes before stocking up on any one product as you don't know if your little one will be allergic to anything J doesn't get on with Bottom butter. We also brought munchkin bath thermometer but I would differently buy one that actually tells you the temperature.
Toys - I would recommend not buying hardly anything to begin with unless you see something you really like most chances are that people will buy you some kind of toy.
Car: We've been out in the car loads i differently suggest buying decent car sun blinds that fits your car. We had originally brought 2 cheepes from Adsa but were always have problems with the 2nd one as it often will fall off or not block enough of the sun.
We've also brought an easy view mirror from Jo Jo Maman Bebe
http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+easy-view-baby-mirror-for-rear-facing-seats-in-baby-car-travel-and-buggy-accessories+a4463
This sits in the rear facing J so we can actually see his face. I would say you can buy them slightly cheaper on somewhere like Amazon but we just brought it when we saw it.
Well ended up being a bit of a long post but hope it helps somewhat.
Wednesday 17 July 2013
When's the time to think about more children?
Something got me thinking today about my embro's I have on ice.
I kidda already know I don't want more children because:
1) I'm not sure we can afford another child. I would much rather have one child and give him the best possible life than have two and struggle**. I have to work in order to help pay the mortgage and bills, then I have to pay nursery fees which are reasonable for me for one child as J will attend 3 days a week but to have to pay for 2 well we couldn't afford that really as we're not entitled to any kinda of help of the government, which is fair enough, hubby and I would have to pay all the fees until the term after their 3rd birthday when they would then be entitled to the free 15 hrs that every child gets. We can of course both get childcare vouchers through work which is a scheme where you can get a voucher for childcare unto £240 each tax fee every month. But also I also want to have a nice life i.e go on nice holidays and buy nice things is this selfish of me? Possibly!
2) I'm not sure I could go through being pregnant again. I know by all accounts I had a pretty normal pregnancy bar the back pain but that differently wasn't fun at times and I know I will have back problems for the rest of my life (not from the pregnancy as I had a pre-exsiting problems beforehand). Also there is no guarantee what the next pregnancy would be like.
3) I'm not sure I could go through birth again. I know I'd probably have an elective c section and if it wasn't offered I would differently want one but could I cope with that again? I know I would be more prepared but still it scares the crap out of me. I'm still traumatised but the whole event now. I know it's only been 5 weeks but I think somethings you just don't get over. A bit like the IVF egg collection.
4) I'm not sure I could go through IVF again. I so admire all the ladies that have done it more than once, how you cope mentally I will never know. We were VERY lucky that it worked 1st time but there is no guarantee that would happen again and mentally i'm not sure if I could go through all that again as well as having a little one. I know that it would be slightly different doing a frozen transfer rather than starting again but then there is no guarantee that I would be able to do a frozen transfer as we only have 2 embro's. It's a whole rollercoaster ride I'm just not ready to get back on. Not only is there the whole emotional side to it but there is also the financial side as well. You're talking a good £1500 for a frozen transfer which at least is better then the odd £6000 needed for ICSI. I know that technically we could get pregnant naturally too but then there is no guarantee of this either and I remember I got caught up in the whole natural process before so that was a whole other emotional rollercoaster !
But bar all this am I actually prepared come September to say to Oxford we don't want to carry on with the storage of our embro's? They are potentially J's brother or sisters? I suppose what I have to think is that I would actually only have 1 more child so technically I would possibly always have to say goodbye to one of them. I know the choice would never be mine about which one we use. Also then there is no guarantee that either would survive the defrosting process and if I went down this road how would I feel? Then on top of all this we would have to decided how long we wanted to keep them for. If we decide to keep them we will have to pay for storage of them and that's about £1000 a year!
I know I have a good 3 months to decide but I know that will come around soon enough and will I be ready then to decide and if i'm not then what do we do? Do we pay for storage just incase?
I know I can't make this decision by my self, there will be a conversation with hubby at some point. What I do need to consider is what he wants. He started down the whole IVF/ICSI process because he knew how much I wanted a child and without him agreeing we wouldn't have J, so it wouldn't be fair of me to deny him of another child.
But when is the right time to think about more children??
One things for sure I am blessed everyday for my little miracle James.
**Please note this post is my personal views and I know lots of people who have more than one child and manage.
As always thanks for taking the time to read
V x
Tuesday 9 July 2013
Am I coping?
I've kidda found my self asking this question in the last few days.
I somehow still feel very overwhelmed by the arrival of little J. I'm not sure if this is down to the lack of sleep or recovering from a major operation.
There has been tears over the last few days mainly in the evenings, not one thing sets me off I just feel likes want to cry.
I won't lie it's bloody difficult removing from a c section and looking after a baby but also trying to look after a house, a husband and also getting on with life so I don't go stir crazy. I have to remember that I can't do certain things. I am a very house proud person do find the house being a mess frustrating. Maybe I need a cleaner but where do we find the money for that? we're not hard up but I don't want to be wasting money. We've managed to spend quite a bit in the last month.
I'm still getting tummy cramps and pains, thankfully the bleeding seems to have stopped which was also getting me down. The other thing is my weight and my wardrobe. Over the last couple of years I have had weight issues it was a huge deal loosing 6.5 stone and then keeping it off. When I found out I was pregnant weight watchers went on the back burner and I went off the rails. I reckon in total I put on about 4 stone during my pregnancy. I weighted my self the day I got home and I'd lost a couple of pounds. Once all my swelling had gone down I was about a stone down but that means I'm still 3 stone up of where I would like to be. I can't wear most of my maternity trousers as there were under the bump ones that actually sit on my scar which still hurts. I need to get hubby to find time to get all my old clothes out of the loft in the hope I have some bits that fit me. But I do need to get back into a healthy eating routine I.e get back onto the weight watchers wagon but I know I'm not ready for that completely yet! I'm not ready to point again but I know that if i don't do something then my weight will creep back up and that will make me more unhappy. weight watchers says I have to wait 6 weeks after birth before I can rejoin, so I might look at the filling and heathy part of the plan to see if that might easy me back into it. Main thing is for me to stop buying all the rubbish I.e the chocolate and biscuits and ice cream easier said than done as these are all the foods that comfort me which is what I need at the moment.
The long shot is I'm kidda coping I have some good days and some bad evenings I'm thankful for the support I've had from my wonderful husband and my lovely mum but also the support I've had on twitter! I would be truly lost without them all.
I somehow still feel very overwhelmed by the arrival of little J. I'm not sure if this is down to the lack of sleep or recovering from a major operation.
There has been tears over the last few days mainly in the evenings, not one thing sets me off I just feel likes want to cry.
I won't lie it's bloody difficult removing from a c section and looking after a baby but also trying to look after a house, a husband and also getting on with life so I don't go stir crazy. I have to remember that I can't do certain things. I am a very house proud person do find the house being a mess frustrating. Maybe I need a cleaner but where do we find the money for that? we're not hard up but I don't want to be wasting money. We've managed to spend quite a bit in the last month.
I'm still getting tummy cramps and pains, thankfully the bleeding seems to have stopped which was also getting me down. The other thing is my weight and my wardrobe. Over the last couple of years I have had weight issues it was a huge deal loosing 6.5 stone and then keeping it off. When I found out I was pregnant weight watchers went on the back burner and I went off the rails. I reckon in total I put on about 4 stone during my pregnancy. I weighted my self the day I got home and I'd lost a couple of pounds. Once all my swelling had gone down I was about a stone down but that means I'm still 3 stone up of where I would like to be. I can't wear most of my maternity trousers as there were under the bump ones that actually sit on my scar which still hurts. I need to get hubby to find time to get all my old clothes out of the loft in the hope I have some bits that fit me. But I do need to get back into a healthy eating routine I.e get back onto the weight watchers wagon but I know I'm not ready for that completely yet! I'm not ready to point again but I know that if i don't do something then my weight will creep back up and that will make me more unhappy. weight watchers says I have to wait 6 weeks after birth before I can rejoin, so I might look at the filling and heathy part of the plan to see if that might easy me back into it. Main thing is for me to stop buying all the rubbish I.e the chocolate and biscuits and ice cream easier said than done as these are all the foods that comfort me which is what I need at the moment.
The long shot is I'm kidda coping I have some good days and some bad evenings I'm thankful for the support I've had from my wonderful husband and my lovely mum but also the support I've had on twitter! I would be truly lost without them all.
Monday 8 July 2013
3 weeks on
How time flies, can't believe Little J has been here 3 weeks already, seems like he's always been here.
Hubby been back at work a week now. I've been really lucky and my mum's been over 3 of the days, hubby managed to work from home another and I was left to my own devices Friday, which turned out to be a manic day.
So got up friday managed to get myself and Little J washed and ready to catch the 9:30 bus into Reading, where our 1st stop was Starbucks for a nice coffee for mummy and a nice bottle of milk for Little J. From there we went to Mothercare to take back some bodysuits I'd brought with my mum on Thursday, as normal I ended up buying the wrong size so had to return to get the right ones. Then we popped into work to see all the girls and show little J off. I ended up seeing colleague who'd had her baby in January but had returned to work, she was lovely and told me how good I was looking after 3 weeks. This cheered me up. Finally we went and met the NCT gang in John Lewis for lunch, it was lovely everyone bar 2 of the lads were there. At 2pm hubby picked us up and we went and got Little J registered before then visiting his great nan before going home and collapsing in a big heap.
So this week has started with me and little J having to manage by our selves. So far it's going ok, we had a few tears. The main thing I have to remember is to take it easy! Friday proved this as I've been feeling rubbish ever since. We have things planned for the rest of the week.
I kinda feel i'm ready to get into some kind of routine for both my sake and little J's. Pretty much now for the last week or so he's been feeing every 4 hours at 6am 10am 2pm 6pm 10pm then give or take 2am this has meant things have been slightly easy and I know where I am. During the day I tend to stir him about 15 mins before his fed time if he's not already awake which 9 times out of 10 he is. I then change his nappy before then feeding him. Currently he's taking 120ml of Cow & Gate comfort milk to help with his colic, yesterday I tried mixing this with the 1st infant milk 3/1 then 2/2 but today have just been on all comfort today. After 10pm we don't wake J for a fed we just leave him to wake naturally and the same at 6am, that fed always depends on what time he fed during the night. If he only fed at 4am then I would try and put him off his next fed until 10am or maybe 9:30 but then the rest of the feds would be on time.
We're currently only bathing J every other night with doing the top and tailing every morning but hoping to increase the bathing to every night at some point. The plan is to bath J at 5pm, have a cuddle then fed at 6pm before some awake time then bed time. At the moment J likes to fall asleep in our arms we are trying to put him down but I kidda feel it's ok as he's only little still. When we put him to bed we put him up in his crib and put the baby monitor on, we have found he likes noise in the background so have been putting the TV on in our bedroom and also he likes sleeping propped up so have put a blanket under the mattress.
Hubby been back at work a week now. I've been really lucky and my mum's been over 3 of the days, hubby managed to work from home another and I was left to my own devices Friday, which turned out to be a manic day.
So got up friday managed to get myself and Little J washed and ready to catch the 9:30 bus into Reading, where our 1st stop was Starbucks for a nice coffee for mummy and a nice bottle of milk for Little J. From there we went to Mothercare to take back some bodysuits I'd brought with my mum on Thursday, as normal I ended up buying the wrong size so had to return to get the right ones. Then we popped into work to see all the girls and show little J off. I ended up seeing colleague who'd had her baby in January but had returned to work, she was lovely and told me how good I was looking after 3 weeks. This cheered me up. Finally we went and met the NCT gang in John Lewis for lunch, it was lovely everyone bar 2 of the lads were there. At 2pm hubby picked us up and we went and got Little J registered before then visiting his great nan before going home and collapsing in a big heap.
So this week has started with me and little J having to manage by our selves. So far it's going ok, we had a few tears. The main thing I have to remember is to take it easy! Friday proved this as I've been feeling rubbish ever since. We have things planned for the rest of the week.
I kinda feel i'm ready to get into some kind of routine for both my sake and little J's. Pretty much now for the last week or so he's been feeing every 4 hours at 6am 10am 2pm 6pm 10pm then give or take 2am this has meant things have been slightly easy and I know where I am. During the day I tend to stir him about 15 mins before his fed time if he's not already awake which 9 times out of 10 he is. I then change his nappy before then feeding him. Currently he's taking 120ml of Cow & Gate comfort milk to help with his colic, yesterday I tried mixing this with the 1st infant milk 3/1 then 2/2 but today have just been on all comfort today. After 10pm we don't wake J for a fed we just leave him to wake naturally and the same at 6am, that fed always depends on what time he fed during the night. If he only fed at 4am then I would try and put him off his next fed until 10am or maybe 9:30 but then the rest of the feds would be on time.
We're currently only bathing J every other night with doing the top and tailing every morning but hoping to increase the bathing to every night at some point. The plan is to bath J at 5pm, have a cuddle then fed at 6pm before some awake time then bed time. At the moment J likes to fall asleep in our arms we are trying to put him down but I kidda feel it's ok as he's only little still. When we put him to bed we put him up in his crib and put the baby monitor on, we have found he likes noise in the background so have been putting the TV on in our bedroom and also he likes sleeping propped up so have put a blanket under the mattress.
Thursday 4 July 2013
Dummy or no dummy that is the question.
I've never been decided on dummies part of me thought I'd never use one but I can't say why.
I never purposely went out and brought any for little J, I was given 2 mam ones by someone and then I got one free on the mam bottle starter pack I brought.
We'd pretty much made it to day 14 without using one partly down to the fact little J liked sucking on his finger to comfort him but as you will find out a new baby won't keep their fingers in there mouths for that long. One afternoon he got really grumpy, he wasn't due a feed for a couple of hours he would find his finger with some help but it wouldn't stay put and then crying started again and nothing would calm him so out came the dummy and hay presto we had a calm baby.
Now we're trying not to give it to him all the time just to comfort him when we think he really needs it. We've both said it will only stay in the house though I'm not sure how long that will last for and also we won't give it to him at bed time.
I will keep you posted on how it goes but I think if it helps a bit then why not.
I never purposely went out and brought any for little J, I was given 2 mam ones by someone and then I got one free on the mam bottle starter pack I brought.
We'd pretty much made it to day 14 without using one partly down to the fact little J liked sucking on his finger to comfort him but as you will find out a new baby won't keep their fingers in there mouths for that long. One afternoon he got really grumpy, he wasn't due a feed for a couple of hours he would find his finger with some help but it wouldn't stay put and then crying started again and nothing would calm him so out came the dummy and hay presto we had a calm baby.
Now we're trying not to give it to him all the time just to comfort him when we think he really needs it. We've both said it will only stay in the house though I'm not sure how long that will last for and also we won't give it to him at bed time.
I will keep you posted on how it goes but I think if it helps a bit then why not.
Monday 1 July 2013
Baby products
I've written before about some of the items we've brought for little J:
http://two-plus-1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/buying-baby-bits-other-baby-shows.html?m=1
But I thought I'd do an updated post on how I was getting on with them, please note this my own personal views on each product.
So after my discussion we brought the Urbo pram and when we purchased it we got the aton car seat for free.
One of the main benefits we thought was the fact little J would be able to go in there from birth. I always said I wouldn't buy the carrycot due to the price and also down to the limited time it would be used but as we found out one day little J is too tiny for the pram this meant we were limited to only being able to take him out in car seat. After a long conversation we decided to bite the bullet and buy the carrycot for the pram. Although we had brought the pram and car seat new we decided that we would buy the carrycot 2nd hand.
We took the carrycot out on Sunday to the river in Henley and he loved it.
The only slight problem left was the sun so rather than using make shift sunshades we've brought the Kurtis Baby peace sun shade. This had been recommend to use by a lovely twitter and fellow blogger Mrs Shilts http://www.mrsshilts.co.uk I have to say I love her blog. Will let you know how we get on with this when it arrives.
For my changing bag I brought the :
http://www.momymoo.co.uk/index.php/maia-baby-changing-bag-teardrops.html
I'd not heard of them before the baby show but once I saw it I loved it. It has various pockets inside and a lovely pocket at the back where the changing mat is. The main thing I found missing from the bag was a nappy holder so through a recommendation on twitter I found this lovely lady called Serendipity Belle on Facebook and she made me this lovely nappy & wipe holder
I have to say I love it it holds at least 6 nappies a small packet of baby wipes (not started taking my cheeky wipes out yet) and some nappy sacks.
Bed wise we've obviously got little J a cot bed in his nursery but yet again he's too tiny to go into it but also more importantly down to guidelines newborns should sleep in the same room as you for the 1st 6 months. So we have what used to be my crib set up in our bedroom. We find this works really well and he loves the rocky notion. We have also got a Moses basket set up in our lounge the main reason for this as due to my c section I don't really want to be going up and down the stairs each time he wants a sleep.
As you may have picked up I lasted 5 days breast feeding before giving up. This was a personal choice and what worked best for our family. As I've said we brought the Mam bottles which I love and more importantly little J seems to be loving them too. What's so good about them is you can sterilise them in the microwave in 3 mins then just add fresh boiled water once cooled you are ready to go. Our normal routine is to make up 2-3 bottles at a time, guidelines say to put in fridge once made up. We do this most of the time unless either we're going out or it's night time in which case we leave 2 bottles out for the night feed and early morning feed.
We've also brought a formula dispenser pot as you can't put the power into the water until you are ready to use it. So rather than having to take the powder milk upstairs and fart about trying to measure it out at 4am this way I can do it before I go to bed and then just pour it in when I'm ready.
My only other thing would be with bibs buy the ones with velcro rather than poppers so much easier to do up and undo.
http://two-plus-1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/buying-baby-bits-other-baby-shows.html?m=1
But I thought I'd do an updated post on how I was getting on with them, please note this my own personal views on each product.
So after my discussion we brought the Urbo pram and when we purchased it we got the aton car seat for free.
One of the main benefits we thought was the fact little J would be able to go in there from birth. I always said I wouldn't buy the carrycot due to the price and also down to the limited time it would be used but as we found out one day little J is too tiny for the pram this meant we were limited to only being able to take him out in car seat. After a long conversation we decided to bite the bullet and buy the carrycot for the pram. Although we had brought the pram and car seat new we decided that we would buy the carrycot 2nd hand.
We took the carrycot out on Sunday to the river in Henley and he loved it.
The only slight problem left was the sun so rather than using make shift sunshades we've brought the Kurtis Baby peace sun shade. This had been recommend to use by a lovely twitter and fellow blogger Mrs Shilts http://www.mrsshilts.co.uk I have to say I love her blog. Will let you know how we get on with this when it arrives.
For my changing bag I brought the :
http://www.momymoo.co.uk/index.php/maia-baby-changing-bag-teardrops.html
I'd not heard of them before the baby show but once I saw it I loved it. It has various pockets inside and a lovely pocket at the back where the changing mat is. The main thing I found missing from the bag was a nappy holder so through a recommendation on twitter I found this lovely lady called Serendipity Belle on Facebook and she made me this lovely nappy & wipe holder
I have to say I love it it holds at least 6 nappies a small packet of baby wipes (not started taking my cheeky wipes out yet) and some nappy sacks.
Bed wise we've obviously got little J a cot bed in his nursery but yet again he's too tiny to go into it but also more importantly down to guidelines newborns should sleep in the same room as you for the 1st 6 months. So we have what used to be my crib set up in our bedroom. We find this works really well and he loves the rocky notion. We have also got a Moses basket set up in our lounge the main reason for this as due to my c section I don't really want to be going up and down the stairs each time he wants a sleep.
As you may have picked up I lasted 5 days breast feeding before giving up. This was a personal choice and what worked best for our family. As I've said we brought the Mam bottles which I love and more importantly little J seems to be loving them too. What's so good about them is you can sterilise them in the microwave in 3 mins then just add fresh boiled water once cooled you are ready to go. Our normal routine is to make up 2-3 bottles at a time, guidelines say to put in fridge once made up. We do this most of the time unless either we're going out or it's night time in which case we leave 2 bottles out for the night feed and early morning feed.
We've also brought a formula dispenser pot as you can't put the power into the water until you are ready to use it. So rather than having to take the powder milk upstairs and fart about trying to measure it out at 4am this way I can do it before I go to bed and then just pour it in when I'm ready.
My only other thing would be with bibs buy the ones with velcro rather than poppers so much easier to do up and undo.
2 weeks old already
Wow how time really flies once you have a little one. I can't believe little J is already 2 weeks old.
I still stare at him in ore every day not quiet believing he's mine, almost like someone will ring the door bell any moment to collect him.
It's amazing how much life had changed at the moment it seems a constant cycle of feeding, changing, calming, sleeping and back to the beginning again. The house is full of baby things everywhere which of course is lovely.
I reminded Chris the other day of his great plans while he was off to do lots around the house. We actually had a disagreement ages ago over it as I said there was no way I wanted anything done in the 1st 2 weeks he's response was we're only having a baby the world doesn't stop! I think it may have been different if I hadn't had a c section and things may have got done but maybe thats me living in hope. Chris has been amazing the last 2 weeks not only being the great amazing father I knew he would be but also the best husband ever. Some days I feel so guilty that he does loads while I sit on the sofa with my feet up but I have to remember I am recovering from major surgery. I still have to be careful doing the simplest things, bending down is still a no go thing but every day I feel slightly better.
So how have I been? Well I'm still in slight pain 14 days later mostly in my lower stomach. I finished my codeine tablets during the week so am just coping with ibuprofen & paracomol only taking them when needed. I do know I need to remember to take it easy. We're trying to get out at least once a day now, which is good for me. We enjoyed a lovely family trip to Henley on Sunday and hd a picnic by the river.
Emotion wise I'm ok, I've had the odd moment but I know that's natural I do find myself getting teary over little things. As I've talked about in a previous post I was worried about postnatal depression I know it can take upto 6 weeks to appear so I will still be keeping an eye out if that's the right phrase to use.
I am worried about next week and Chris returning to work, he commented that I've mentioned it a few times. I'm not quite sure what exactly I'm worried about maybe it's a mixture of having to cope with little one all on my own or maybe it's being confined to the house or the local area as I am unable to drive for upto 6 weeks and at the moment I'm not sure I could make it to the bus stop. I have arranged for my mum to come around so will take the week as it comes. We have been offered lots of support and help I know I just have to pick up the phone and someone would come over but I just find it hard asking for help! I even struggled slightly with Chris but slowly I am learning, maybe it the whole feeling like a slight failure if I ask.
One things for sure I love little J with all my heart and I wouldn't change anything.
I still stare at him in ore every day not quiet believing he's mine, almost like someone will ring the door bell any moment to collect him.
It's amazing how much life had changed at the moment it seems a constant cycle of feeding, changing, calming, sleeping and back to the beginning again. The house is full of baby things everywhere which of course is lovely.
I reminded Chris the other day of his great plans while he was off to do lots around the house. We actually had a disagreement ages ago over it as I said there was no way I wanted anything done in the 1st 2 weeks he's response was we're only having a baby the world doesn't stop! I think it may have been different if I hadn't had a c section and things may have got done but maybe thats me living in hope. Chris has been amazing the last 2 weeks not only being the great amazing father I knew he would be but also the best husband ever. Some days I feel so guilty that he does loads while I sit on the sofa with my feet up but I have to remember I am recovering from major surgery. I still have to be careful doing the simplest things, bending down is still a no go thing but every day I feel slightly better.
So how have I been? Well I'm still in slight pain 14 days later mostly in my lower stomach. I finished my codeine tablets during the week so am just coping with ibuprofen & paracomol only taking them when needed. I do know I need to remember to take it easy. We're trying to get out at least once a day now, which is good for me. We enjoyed a lovely family trip to Henley on Sunday and hd a picnic by the river.
Emotion wise I'm ok, I've had the odd moment but I know that's natural I do find myself getting teary over little things. As I've talked about in a previous post I was worried about postnatal depression I know it can take upto 6 weeks to appear so I will still be keeping an eye out if that's the right phrase to use.
I am worried about next week and Chris returning to work, he commented that I've mentioned it a few times. I'm not quite sure what exactly I'm worried about maybe it's a mixture of having to cope with little one all on my own or maybe it's being confined to the house or the local area as I am unable to drive for upto 6 weeks and at the moment I'm not sure I could make it to the bus stop. I have arranged for my mum to come around so will take the week as it comes. We have been offered lots of support and help I know I just have to pick up the phone and someone would come over but I just find it hard asking for help! I even struggled slightly with Chris but slowly I am learning, maybe it the whole feeling like a slight failure if I ask.
One things for sure I love little J with all my heart and I wouldn't change anything.
Bath time
Little J has had his 2nd bath now. This was a little more successful than his 1st bath the other night.
Before we got him undressed we got the bath all ready with the bath support in it, had a sponge at the ready and also a nice warm towel to wrap him in after.
We brought the munchkin white hot safety bath duck thermometer so we would knew if the bath was too hot the only downside to it is it doesn't tell you if the bath is too cold which I think may have been our problem the 1st time as little J wasn't keen at all and pretty much cried all the way through.
For the 1st bath we just used plan water but after conversations with my mum we decided that actually this might be making little J's skin dryer so for the 2nd bath we decided to add a bit of Johnson's baby top to toe bath this seemed to work a bit better.
After the 1st bath due to his dry skin we rubbed in olive oil in him, this had been recommended to us by our midwife but to be honest I found it slightly strange. So again after various conversations I decided to try something different so after the 2nd bath I just rubbed Johnson's baby oil into him which he seemed to like, I think it helped that I kept little J wrapped up in his towel while I rubbed the oil into him.
He differently seemed much happier having his 2nd bath which I am really happy about because I have booked him onto the water babies swimming sessions starting in September. I love the water and so I want my son to be the same.
Before we got him undressed we got the bath all ready with the bath support in it, had a sponge at the ready and also a nice warm towel to wrap him in after.
We brought the munchkin white hot safety bath duck thermometer so we would knew if the bath was too hot the only downside to it is it doesn't tell you if the bath is too cold which I think may have been our problem the 1st time as little J wasn't keen at all and pretty much cried all the way through.
For the 1st bath we just used plan water but after conversations with my mum we decided that actually this might be making little J's skin dryer so for the 2nd bath we decided to add a bit of Johnson's baby top to toe bath this seemed to work a bit better.
After the 1st bath due to his dry skin we rubbed in olive oil in him, this had been recommended to us by our midwife but to be honest I found it slightly strange. So again after various conversations I decided to try something different so after the 2nd bath I just rubbed Johnson's baby oil into him which he seemed to like, I think it helped that I kept little J wrapped up in his towel while I rubbed the oil into him.
He differently seemed much happier having his 2nd bath which I am really happy about because I have booked him onto the water babies swimming sessions starting in September. I love the water and so I want my son to be the same.
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